The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a clarification after reports surfaced about a QR code printed on the Class 12 Mathematics question paper for the 2026 board exam held on March 9. The code allegedly redirected users to a YouTube video of the song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, sparking widespread discussion online.
In its statement, CBSE confirmed that the question papers used in the examination were authentic and that the security of the exam had not been compromised. The board said that while the concerns regarding the authenticity of the papers have been addressed, the matter has been taken seriously and appropriate steps are being considered to prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to reports circulating on social media, scanning the QR code printed on the paper opened the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up” on YouTube — a well-known internet prank commonly referred to as a “rickroll.” The incident led to confusion among students and raised concerns among parents about the reliability of the examination material.
The Class 12 Mathematics exam was conducted on March 9 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Teachers described the paper as balanced and well-structured, with most questions based on the NCERT syllabus and the prescribed curriculum. The exam primarily tested students’ conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities. Educators noted that none of the questions were outside the syllabus, making the paper accessible for students who had prepared thoroughly through NCERT textbooks and regular practice. Overall, the exam was considered fair, featuring a mix of easy, moderate, and application-based questions.
